The United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Judge Stephen Alexander Vaden, visited the University of Tennessee at Martin to speak with students in the Gooch Hall Auditorium on Monday, Sept. 22.

A native of Union City, Tennessee, Vaden’s return to West Tennessee marks a significant moment for both the university and the region. His visit highlighted how the connection between national agricultural leadership and rural communities and institutions shapes the future of the industry.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Vaden was sworn in as Deputy Secretary on July 7, 2025, joining Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins in carrying out the administration’s goals under President Trump.

The USDA says Vaden’s role is “to executing agricultural and nutrition policies primarily under the One Big Beautiful Bill.”

His visit to UT Martin offers students and faculty the opportunity to engage directly with one of the top leaders in U.S. agricultural policy, learn more about how the agriculture industry is currently being impacted and ultimately reflect on the impact of local voices in national decision-making. One of the biggest lessons Vaden emphasized to the crowd was the importance of doing well wherever you’re placed, as well as being a flexible leader.

“One of my biggest takeaways from listening to the secretary speak was that when a good opportunity comes, it will never be convenient. We can’t let the inconvenience bother us. We just need to move past it and make it work,” said Bethany Maneiro, a freshman studying International Business. “Most importantly, when an answer opportunity comes, the answer should always be yes.”

Vaden showcased to our students the importance of taking every opportunity, but also a deeper look into what makes a good leader and employer, by emphasizing the kind of skills we should strive to possess.

“With visitors like the Deputy Secretary that have so much importance and responsibility with supporting the future of agriculture, I think it’s vital for those of such high power and our fellow students to [collaborate and] see how a smaller university also chooses to advocate for agriculture education,” said Lucy Beth Jackson, a freshman studying Agricultural Law and Policy.

Strengthening the future of agriculture and rural education starts with bridging the gaps established across the nation. Initiatives like this allow students at UT Martin, no matter their background, to work towards one of the greatest agricultural education goals: to understand just how vital the agriculture industry is, and that even some of our greatest leaders have genuine care for agriculture at the local level, all the way to the national level. Alongside an incredible turnout of students at the event, we also had an impressive number of faculty and staff present.

Interim Dean of the College of Business and Global Affairs, Dr.Joey Mehlhorn, had the opportunity to serve on the panel alongside the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and expressed immense gratitude for his visit to UT Martin.

“It was an honor to host Deputy Secretary Steven Vaden on campus at UT Martin. To have someone with Mr. Vaden’s experience sharing with students the importance of US agriculture to the world is so important for us to understand the complex issues facing the global agriculture industry,” said Mehlhorn. “He also shared valuable information for students on how to be successful in today’s workforce.  The story of his personal journey was inspiring to students and allowed us all to realize that you can go very far in life if you work hard and stay focused.”

As the campus reflects on this visitation, we are reminded of just how vital it is for roots to run deep. General Secretary Stephen Vaden’s visit to UT Martin is a testament to not only the impact of dedication to truly connecting with individuals at the local level, all the way up to our nation’s leaders, but also to the importance of working earnestly towards one’s dreams and aspirations. The future of the agricultural industry, and our nation as a whole, begins with meaningful interactions like this.

We look forward to seeing our students, faculty, and staff continue to remember this moment forever.